New York – Additional Federal HEAP Funds to Help Low-Income Families Stay Warm

New York – Low-income New Yorkers will get some extra help with their heating bills this winter.

The money will come from an additional $82.3 million recently released by the federal government for the state-managed Home Energy Assistance Program.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer said today the "emergency benefit" for families unable to afford fuel or facing a power shut-off is being increased from $600 to $700 to reflect higher costs for energy. The extra funds will also provide a second emergency benefit of up to $700 for qualified families, and the program will be extended through May 15.

So far this season, $178 million has been spent through HEAP to help 719,000 families. [AP]